Delivery Scams in the UK: How to Spot Them Before They Empty Your Wallet

When Christmas rolls in, the UK basically becomes a nation of tracking numbers and “your parcel is on its way” notifications.

Everyone is ordering something, waiting for something, or trying to remember what they ordered in the first place. Scammers know this. They jump right into the chaos with fake texts, cloned tracking pages, dodgy marketplace offers, and schemes that look more convincing every year.

This guide walks you through the scams doing the rounds right now, plus the exact questions people search for when they realise something feels off. The goal isn’t to scare you, it’s to give you the confidence to spot the traps instantly and keep your money safe.

How do I know if a delivery text is a scam?

The quickest giveaway is urgency. Scammers love messages that try to force you into acting fast. Anything that says your parcel is on hold, needs immediate payment, or is about to be returned to the sender is crafted to make you panic tap without thinking. I’ve had these messages hit me at the worst possible moments, and even then, the pressure feels real.

If the text wants you to click a link, I treat it as suspicious. I always ignore the link, open the courier’s genuine app myself, and check my deliveries there. If there’s no issue showing on the official app, the message gets deleted.

The fake delivery text that everyone is getting

This is the scam that refuses to die because it works so well. The text pretends to be from Royal Mail, Evri, DPD, UPS, Amazon, or whichever courier is busy right now. You tap the link, land on a page that looks almost perfect, and then get asked for a small payment.

That tiny payment is bait. They don’t want £1.50. They want the card details you enter to pay it. Real couriers in the UK don’t operate like this, and they will never ask for payment through a random text message.

Do Royal Mail ever text you about delivery fees?

No. Royal Mail does not text people asking for money. If you owe fees, they use official channels and proper notices, not urgent texts or shortened links. Every “Royal Mail fee” text I have ever had has been fake.

Scammers pick Royal Mail because everyone recognises the brand. It gives instant credibility, especially around Christmas, but the moment a message asks for payment, you can safely assume it is a scam.

Fake tracking pages that copy real courier websites

Scammers have become extremely good at imitating courier websites. The link they send looks like a genuine tracking update. You open it and see a timeline, a parcel number, a delivery window, sometimes even a fake driver name. It all looks believable until you get asked for payment or extra details to “release” your parcel.

Real tracking pages do not ask for card details. If a page demands payment before showing you the status of your delivery, it is fake. I always type the courier name into Google myself and check through the real site. If the tracking number doesn’t exist there, that tells you everything.

Can a parcel be marked as delivered even if it hasn’t been?

Yes, and it happens more often than people think. Parcels get scanned early, dropped at the wrong house, left with a neighbour, mis-scanned, or hidden in places you would never check. Sometimes the driver marks it as delivered to stay on schedule and then runs back later.

Whenever this happens to me, I skip the back-and-forth with the courier and go straight to the retailer. Legally, the retailer is responsible for making sure the parcel reaches you. If the tracking shows as delivered but you do not have anything in your hands, the retailer must sort it out.

Fake missed delivery cards turning up through the letterbox

This scam has made a full comeback. Scammers leave cards that look like real missed delivery notes from Royal Mail or other couriers. The card tells you to scan a QR code or visit a website to rearrange the delivery. Both routes lead to a fake page that asks for payment or personal information.

If the card looks slightly wrong, or the courier name doesn’t ring a bell, I ignore it and check my retailers or courier apps directly. A real missed delivery will show up in your genuine tracking history.

What do I do if I clicked a scam text link?

If you clicked the link but didn’t enter any details, you’re usually fine. Close the page, delete the text, and maybe run a quick security check on your phone.

If you entered personal information or card details, call your bank immediately. Banks deal with this every day and can freeze your card before anything worse happens. It feels embarrassing, but it happens to loads of people. These scams are designed to catch you off guard in a split second of stress or distraction.

Marketplace pick up scams on Facebook, Gumtree, Vinted, and eBay

These scams usually start with a buyer who seems keen, offers good money, and then insists that their courier will collect the item. You’ll be told that payment will be released once the courier “verifies” your parcel.

Then a very official-looking email arrives saying you need to pay a small activation fee before the courier is allowed to come.

Once you pay, the buyer vanishes. Real couriers never charge sellers a fee. If a buyer insists on using a courier you have never heard of, or the situation feels pushy, step away.

More UK scams doing the rounds this year

Delivery scams sit in a bigger trend of digital fraud. These are the scams that people are constantly searching for more information about on Google because they have increased over the last few years.

The impersonator scam

This one pretends to be the government. Sometimes it claims you’re owed tax rebates. Other times it says you’ve missed council payments, or that you’re eligible for urgent energy support funds. The branding often looks official because scammers copy real logos and colour schemes.

The simple truth is that government bodies do not message people out of nowhere asking for money, bank details, or verification. Any message that does this can be ignored immediately.

The fake investment opportunity

People Google these constantly because the adverts look slick. Scammers promise big returns on crypto or “exclusive funds”, often using fake celebrity endorsements. You “invest”, the dashboard looks real, and then when you try to withdraw your money, you either get nothing or get charged huge “withdrawal fees”.

Real investments do not require withdrawal fees. Anyone promising guaranteed high returns is already waving a bright red warning sign.

Is it safe to buy items through social media ads?

It can be, but social media is full of scam shops. Some ads lead to legitimate retailers, but others point to fly-by-night websites that vanish after a few weeks. They use stolen photos, fake reviews, and prices that don’t make sense.

If the deal looks impossible or the shop is brand new with no history, I avoid it. I only buy through platforms that offer payment protection.

The non-existent job offer

These scams often go after people looking for flexible work. You get a message offering simple remote tasks that earn quick commission. They even pay you a tiny amount at the start to make it feel real. Then they ask for a deposit to “unlock” your full earnings. Once you pay, everything disappears.

A real job never makes you pay to start work or unlock pay.

The social media seller scam

This one targets people looking for high-demand products like consoles, trainers, or luxury items. The seller promises fast delivery, insists on bank transfer, and usually has a profile that looks convincing at first glance. Once you pay, you either receive nothing or get a poor-quality counterfeit.

If a seller refuses secure payment methods, that’s usually enough for me to walk away!

How to stay safe when scams are everywhere

The best defence is slowing things down. Scammers rely on speed and panic. If you take a moment to think, most scams fall apart quickly. I always use payment methods that offer protection, such as credit cards or PayPal.

I never share one-time passcodes with anyone, because that code is basically the key to your accounts. And if anything feels off, I check using the official website myself rather than trusting the link.

These small habits make you incredibly difficult for scammers to manipulate.

What should I do if a parcel is stolen from my doorstep?

Everything depends on whether you gave permission for the parcel to be left there. If you never agreed to a safe place and the parcel is stolen, the retailer must replace or refund it.

If you told the courier to leave it in a particular spot and it goes missing, it becomes your responsibility. That is why I’m careful with safe-place instructions unless I genuinely need them.

Can banks refund money lost to delivery scams?

Most banks in the UK will refund losses from scams, especially if you report them quickly. They deal with this constantly and have strong fraud systems in place. The key is not waiting. As soon as you realise what has happened, contact them straight away.

Why do scammers target delivery messages so much?

Because it works! During busy shopping periods, people barely keep track of what they ordered or which courier is delivering it.

A fake message blends in perfectly. Scammers rely on distraction and timing. The more parcels you’re expecting, the easier it is for them to slip their message into the pile.

Scammers rely on rushed decisions. Their whole strategy is built around moments when you’re busy, distracted, or juggling too much.

Once you understand how they operate, it becomes much easier to spot the traps. Most scams fall apart the moment you stop, double-check, and stick to official apps and websites.

Staying safe isn’t about being suspicious of everything. It’s about building small habits that make it impossible for you to be fooled. Take a moment before clicking any link. Question anything unusual.

Use payment methods that protect you. And remind friends and family what to look out for, because the more we talk about this stuff, the fewer people fall for it. The scams might be getting smarter, but so are we!